How central Queensland could solve the gas crisis

Geoff has been working for the QT since August 2011 covering Ipswich’s rural areas. He started working for APN in January 2010 with the Chinchilla News in western Queensland after growing up on a grain farm. Geoff spends his time out of work watching far too much sport following the Reds, the Broncos and various American teams.

"The last thing Queensland needs is more destructive coal seam gas fields that sacrifice agriculture and the environment, all so the gas can be exported off overseas for private profit,” she said.

"Too many Queensland farmers and communities are already suffering the impacts of coal seam gas drilling on their land, water and livelihoods, while most of the gas is exported offshore which has caused gas prices in Australia to skyrocket.”

Mr Phillips said the Bowen Basin had greater proven potential than other Australian gas provinces and could be exploited in a very short time.

"Gas is symbiotic to growing reliance on renewables. The sun doesn't shine at night and wind doesn't blow all the time,” he said.

"We need something to generate base load power between those times, and that is gas.” -NewsRegional